1914 Auburn Tigers football team

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1914 Auburn Tigers football
1914 Auburn football team.jpg
SIAA co–champion
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1914 record8–0–1 (4–0–1 SIAA)
Head coach
Base defense7–2–2
CaptainRobbie Robinson
Home stadiumDrake Field
Seasons
← 1913
1915 →
1914 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Tennessee + 6 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 0
Auburn + 4 – 0 – 1 8 – 0 – 1
Texas A&M 2 – 0 – 0 6 – 1 – 1
Ole Miss 2 – 1 – 1 5 – 4 – 1
Mississippi A&M 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Sewanee 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 0
Florida 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 2 – 0
Georgia 2 – 2 – 1 3 – 5 – 1
Clemson 2 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 1
Alabama 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Kentucky 1 – 1 – 0 5 – 3 – 0
LSU 1 – 2 – 1 4 – 4 – 1
Chattanooga 1 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Vanderbilt 1 – 3 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Mississippi College 0 – 1 – 1 4 – 3 – 1
Wofford 0 – 1 – 0 1 – 7 – 1
Centre 0 – 1 – 0 1 – 3 – 1
Mercer 0 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Tulane 0 – 3 – 1 3 – 3 – 1
The Citadel 0 – 3 – 0 2 – 5 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1914 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University (then called the Alabama Polytechnic Institute) in the 1914 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. It was the Tigers' 23rd overall season and they competed as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The team was led by head coach Mike Donahue, in his 10th year, and played their home games at Drake Field in Auburn, Alabama. They finished as SIAA Champions with a record of eight wins, zero losses and one tie (8–0–1 overall, 4–0–1 in the SIAA) and outscored opponents 193–0.

Auburn's strong defense, which held opponents scoreless all season, helped the team garner a retroactive national title by James Howell's computer rating system.[1] Auburn University does not claim or otherwise acknowledge this title.

Before the season[]

Auburn returned another powerful team minus Kirk Newell.[2] "Bull" Kearley was shifted from halfback to end to add speed to the defensive line.[3]

Schedule[]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 26Marion Military Institute*
W 39–0
October 3at FloridaJacksonville, FL (rivalry)W 20–0
October 10Clemson
W 28–0
October 17West Alabama A. C.*
  • Drake Field
  • Auburn, AL
W 60–0
October 24Mississippi A&M
  • Rickwood Field
  • Birmingham, AL
W 19–0
November 7at Georgia Tech*
W 14–0
November 14Vanderbilt
  • Rickwood Field
  • Birmingham, AL
W 6–010,000
November 21at Georgia
T 0–0
November 25vs. Carlisle*
  • Piedmont Park
  • Atlanta, GA
W 7–0
  • *Non-conference game

[4][5]

Season summary[]

Marion Military Institute[]

The season opened with a 28–0 win over the Marion Military Institute.

at Florida[]

Auburn at Florida
1 234Total
• Auburn 0 0713 20
Florida 0 000 0
  • Date: October 10
  • Location: Jacksonville, Florida

In Jacksonville, Auburn defeated the Florida Gators 20–0. Auburn's team was nearly as strong as the season before and claims another SIAA title. In contrast to the prior season, the 20–0 loss was seen as a moral victory and sign of progress for the Gators.[7] However, the Florida also lost its captain. John Sutton left the game feeling poorly, and further examination revealed a weak heart.[7] Auburn's backfield performed well, and Florida gave way by the second half.[6] Bedie Bidez made two touchdowns.[6]

Clemson[]

Auburn beat the Clemson Tigers 28–0.

West Alabama A. C.[]

Against West Alabama Athletic Club came the season's biggest win, 60–0.

Mississippi A&M[]

Despite several fumbles, Auburn beat the Mississippi Aggies 19–0. One touchdown came on a delayed pass of 35 yards.[8]

The starting lineup was Steed (left end), Culpepper (left tackle), Sample (left guard), Pitts (center), Taylor (right guard), Louiselle (right tackle), Robinson (right end), Arnold (quarterback), Hairston (left halfback), Hart (right halfback), Harris (fullback).[8][9]

Georgia Tech[]

Auburn at Georgia Tech
1 234Total
• Auburn 0 707 14
Ga. Tech 0 000 0
  • Date: November 7
  • Location: Grant Field
    Atlanta
  • Referee: Innis Brown

Sources:[10]

Auburn defeated John Heisman's Georgia Tech team 14–0. Tech would not lose to a southern team for 5 years after this.

Auburn scored first in the second quarter, Prendergast carrying the ball over.[10] Red Hart had a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth for the other score.[10]

The starting lineup was Kearley (left end), Steed (left tacle), Taylor (left guard), Pitts (center), Thigpen (right guard), Louiselle (right tackle), Robinson (end), Hairston (quarterback), Prendergast (left halfback), Hart (right halfback), Harris (fullback).[10]

Vanderbilt[]

Vanderbilt at Auburn
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 0 000 0
• Auburn 6 000 6
  • Date: November 14
  • Location: Rickwood Field
    Birmingham, Alabama
  • Game attendance: 10,000
  • Referee: Bradley Walker

Sources:[11]

In dreary weather, Auburn beat the Vanderbilt Commodores 6–0. In less than eight minutes of play, Red Harris made the decisive touchdown.[11]

The starting lineup was Kearley (left end), Steed (left tacle), Taylor (left guard), Pitts (center), Thigpen (right guard), Louiselle (right tackle), Robinson (end), Hairston (quarterback), Prendergast (left halfback), Hart (right halfback), Harris (fullback).[11]

Georgia[]

All-American David Paddock and the Georgia Bulldogs held the Tigers to a scoreless tie. Auburn fumbled often in their own territory, then stood "like Petain at Verdun."[12]

Carlisle[]

In final game of the season, Auburn defeated the Carlisle Indians led by Pete Calac and coached by Pop Warner. It was the first intersectional game in Atlanta.

Postseason[]

Auburn claimed a share of an SIAA title.

References[]

  1. ^ "1914 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings".
  2. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 5
  3. ^ "Auburn's Best Defense Ever Led the 1914 Tigers to an Undefeated Season Now Recognized as a National Championship". August 12, 2014.
  4. ^ 2009 Auburn Football Media Guide (PDF). Auburn, Alabama: Auburn Media Relations Office. 2009. p. 185.
  5. ^ "1914 Auburn University Football Schedule". Auburn University Athletics. Retrieved December 19, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ a b c "Auburn 20, Florida 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 11, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved July 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. ^ a b McEwen, The Gators, p. 58.
  8. ^ a b "Auburn Beats Mississippi 19 to 0". The Tennessean. October 25, 1914. p. 32. Retrieved May 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 10
  10. ^ a b c d "Georgia Tech Beaten By Auburn". The Tennessean. November 8, 1914. p. 27. Retrieved May 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. ^ a b c "Auburn Defeats Vanderbilt". Greensboro Daily News. November 15, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved May 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  12. ^ Woodruff 1928, p. 15

Additional sources[]

  • Woodruff, Fuzzy (1928). A History of Southern Football 1890–1928. 2.
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